Zaha Hadid unveils Monterrey apartment complex

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has unveiled a luxury apartment building planned for Huajuco Canyon, Monterrey, Mexico. The original brief for the Esfera City Center project demanded 12 residential towers. But presumably an architect with Hadid's clout can choose to do what she thinks best, and she designed a nine-story complex comprising a total of 981 apartments spread over 136,000 sq m (1,463,891 sq ft) instead.

Roughly taking the form of a U shape when viewed from above, the Esfera City Center project features homes varying from small lofts, which measure from 45 sq m (484 sq ft) and upwards, to four bedroom apartments that reach a maximum size of 165 sq m (1,776 sq ft).

Occupants will enjoy access to an adjacent 3 hectare (7.4 acre) public park which features a clubhouse with café, exercise room, and a workshop/reading room. Additional amenities and attractions include a chapel, picnic areas, an amphitheater and extensive gardens.

The sustainable design slated for the build is rather modest. External building materials were chosen to reflect the sun's rays, while each balcony is said to serve as a brise soleil. In addition, the firm reports that the orientation of each apartment was chosen to help reduce the effects of the sun.

"The building’s envelope references the local architectural language and Mexican tradition of interlocking lattice geometries to provide shading and describe the outdoor space of each residence," says ZHA. "These lattice geometries have been used widely throughout pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary Mexican architecture to give protection from the sun and generate varied and dynamic displays of light and shadow."

The first phase of the project's planned three phases is not due to be completed until 2018.